Raksha Bandhan: Gift ideas for your brother or sister amid COVID

Raksha Bandhan is a festival that celebrates the bond between a brother and sister. It falls on the Shravan Purnima Tithi (Full Moon Day) of the Hindu calendar. This year, Rakha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, will be observed on August 22. 

However, there is no denying the fact that those special annual gifts by brothers make the festival extra special. Chances are many of you may not meet your sibling physically due to COVID crisis and quarantine practices but the exchange of goodies must not stop.

Also read: The ultimate Raksha Bandhan playlist: Songs that define brother-sister love

Here are a few gift ideas during COVID:

Gift cards:

E-retail has boomed during the lockdown. If you know that your sibling loves to shop online, gifting cards are an option worth exploring. Amazon and Flipkart offer a lot of options for gifting cards. The prices of these cards start from Rs 500 and go up to Rs 10,000. The gift card usually comes with a validity period as mentioned on the websites. Amazon Pay Gift Card once issued cannot be cashed out, cancelled, refunded, or transferred.

Also read: Raksha Bandhan 2021: WhatsApp wishes and quotes for your loved ones

Digital caricatures:

Digital caricatures, animated sketches of a person/s, can be mailed or posted to your sibling, making the gift a very personal one. Once mailed, the receiver just has to print it from a local vendor. Along with the creativity coming into play, digital caricatures can be convenient gifts for your siblings abroad. 

Gourmet food hampers

If your sibling loves food, delight them with a food hamper. Get some tasty cupcakes, dry fruits, cheesecakes, cookies, chocolates and macrons together to make a delicious gourmet food hamper. These hampers can be personalised according to the liking of the receiver. 

Also read: Raksha Bandhan 2021: History, timings and more

Plants

Go green this Rakhi. Celebrate the festival of love between a brother and sister by gifting some plants. Plants freshen the atmosphere at home and also stand for prosperity, peace and happiness. Try going for indoor plants like bamboo, snake plant, peace lily, bonsai, succulents etc. 

Books

While your sibling might have all kinds of OTT subscriptions and even a Kindle, the smell of a fresh copy is likely to brighten their day. Books can be awesome gifts for people who like reading but if your sibling doesn’t, your present can push them towards a very useful habit.